ESP32 Retro PC Project Overview

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Here are the coolest highlights of your ESP32 x86 PC, plus a ready-to-use project description.
Coolest features
  • Real VGA output from an ESP32 using a simple resistor DAC into the VGA connector, driven by ESP1.
  • Genuine PS/2 support for keyboard and mouse via open-drain level shifting using Q3, Q5, Q6, Q7 and the KeyBoard and Mouse ports.
  • Seamless USB-C power and plug-and-program over USB-UART using USB1 plus IC1, with auto-boot handled by Q1 and Q2, and manual BOOT and RESET buttons.
  • Built-in speaker audio using a compact Class-D power amp U2 driving SPK1, with output filtering FB1, FB2 and supply/bead isolation L1, L2.
  • microSD storage over SDIO with proper pull-ups and ESD protection on CMD, CLK and DAT lines: Card2, R56, R57, R58, R54, R50, D3, D4, D5.
  • Robust power path with manual power switch POWER, reverse protection D1, and a simple 3.3 V rail via LDO U1 backed by bulk and local decoupling like C5, C9.
  • USB data line protection with a dedicated TVS array D2, keeping D+/D- reliable.
Suggested project descriptions
  • Short tagline: An ESP32-powered retro PC that outputs real VGA, speaks PS/2, plays audio on a built-in speaker, programs over USB-C, and loads assets from microSD.
  • Full description: A self-contained retro PC platform built around ESP1 that exposes classic PC-style IO: VGA video via a resistor DAC to the VGA connector, PS/2 keyboard and mouse through open-drain level shifters Q3/Q5/Q6/Q7, microSD storage on Card2, and a Class-D audio path using U2 into SPK1. It powers and debugs over USB-C using USB1 and IC1, with auto-boot logic via Q1/Q2. The 3.3 V rail is regulated by U1, with ESD and filtering throughout for robust operation.
Key components and roles
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43 days

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U1
Manufacturer Part Number
AMS1117-3.3
sadafgh
1mo
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SPI_MISO
G_GPIO18
G_GPIO18
C4
Capacitance
10u F
+3V3
ESP_RX
+3V3
B_GPIO4
VGA_GREEN
VGA_RED
+3V3
C11
Capacitance
0.1u F
B_GPIO5
+3V3
GPIO0
C8
Capacitance
10u F
VGA_GREEN
VGA_BLUE
IO0_IO2_KEY
GPIO2
KeyB_CLOCK
+5V
C6
Capacitance
0.1u F
C7
Capacitance
0.1u F
VGA_BLUE
SPI_MISO
+5V
KeyB_DATA
B_GPIO4
SPI_MOSI
+3V3
R_GPIO22
Mouse_CLOCK
GPIO0
SPI_CS
VGA_HSync
ESP_EN
B_GPIO5
+5V
KeyB_DATA
+3V3
KeyB_CLOCK
R_GPIO22
DAC_GPIO25
+3V3
ESP_EN
VGA_RED
IO0_IO2_AUTO
G_GPIO19
SPI_CLK
VGA_VSync
VGA_HSync
ESP_TX
VGA_VSync
G_GPIO19
R_GPIO21
ESP_TX
ESP_EN
R_GPIO21
ESP_RX
Mouse_DATA
SPI_MOSI
ESP_EN
SPI_CLK
+5V
+3V3
SPI_CS
Q3
R1
Resistance
10k Ω
D3
ESP1
3V3
PWR
R10
Resistance
430 Ω
Q5
R9
Resistance
820 Ω
TX
R4
Resistance
1k Ω
Q1
R8
Resistance
430 Ω
R13
Resistance
10k Ω
R11
Resistance
10k Ω
RESET
R5
Resistance
820 Ω
EN
R6
Resistance
430 Ω
R58
Resistance
10k Ω
GND
R12
Resistance
10k Ω
R14
Resistance
10k Ω
BOOT
IO0
R7
Resistance
820 Ω
Q2
RX
R50
Resistance
0 Ω
R53
Resistance
0 Ω
C5
Capacitance
10u F
R52
Resistance
0 Ω
VGA
R54
Resistance
0 Ω
  • Ground
    Ground
    A common return path for electric current. Commonly known as ground.
    jharwinbarrozo
    20.5M
  • Net Portal
    Net Portal
    Wirelessly connects nets on schematic. Used to organize schematics and separate functional blocks. To wirelessly connect net portals, give them same designator. #portal
    jharwinbarrozo
    43.0M
  • Power Net Portal
    Power Net Portal
    Wirelessly connects power nets on schematic. Identical to the net portal, but with a power symbol. Used to organize schematics and separate functional blocks. To wirelessly connect power net portals, give them the same designator. #portal #power
    jharwinbarrozo
    11.4M
  • Generic Resistor
    Generic Resistor
    A generic fixed resistor for rapid developing circuit topology. Save precious design time by seamlessly add more information to this part (value, footprint, etc.) as it becomes available. Standard resistor values: 1.0Ω 10Ω 100Ω 1.0kΩ 10kΩ 100kΩ 1.0MΩ 1.1Ω 11Ω 110Ω 1.1kΩ 11kΩ 110kΩ 1.1MΩ 1.2Ω 12Ω 120Ω 1.2kΩ 12kΩ 120kΩ 1.2MΩ 1.3Ω 13Ω 130Ω 1.3kΩ 13kΩ 130kΩ 1.3MΩ 1.5Ω 15Ω 150Ω 1.5kΩ 15kΩ 150kΩ 1.5MΩ 1.6Ω 16Ω 160Ω 1.6kΩ 16kΩ 160kΩ 1.6MΩ 1.8Ω 18Ω 180Ω 1.8KΩ 18kΩ 180kΩ 1.8MΩ 2.0Ω 20Ω 200Ω 2.0kΩ 20kΩ 200kΩ 2.0MΩ 2.2Ω 22Ω 220Ω 2.2kΩ 22kΩ 220kΩ 2.2MΩ 2.4Ω 24Ω 240Ω 2.4kΩ 24kΩ 240kΩ 2.4MΩ 2.7Ω 27Ω 270Ω 2.7kΩ 27kΩ 270kΩ 2.7MΩ 3.0Ω 30Ω 300Ω 3.0KΩ 30KΩ 300KΩ 3.0MΩ 3.3Ω 33Ω 330Ω 3.3kΩ 33kΩ 330kΩ 3.3MΩ 3.6Ω 36Ω 360Ω 3.6kΩ 36kΩ 360kΩ 3.6MΩ 3.9Ω 39Ω 390Ω 3.9kΩ 39kΩ 390kΩ 3.9MΩ 4.3Ω 43Ω 430Ω 4.3kΩ 43KΩ 430KΩ 4.3MΩ 4.7Ω 47Ω 470Ω 4.7kΩ 47kΩ 470kΩ 4.7MΩ 5.1Ω 51Ω 510Ω 5.1kΩ 51kΩ 510kΩ 5.1MΩ 5.6Ω 56Ω 560Ω 5.6kΩ 56kΩ 560kΩ 5.6MΩ 6.2Ω 62Ω 620Ω 6.2kΩ 62KΩ 620KΩ 6.2MΩ 6.8Ω 68Ω 680Ω 6.8kΩ 68kΩ 680kΩ 6.8MΩ 7.5Ω 75Ω 750Ω 7.5kΩ 75kΩ 750kΩ 7.5MΩ 8.2Ω 82Ω 820Ω 8.2kΩ 82kΩ 820kΩ 8.2MΩ 9.1Ω 91Ω 910Ω 9.1kΩ 91kΩ 910kΩ 9.1MΩ #generics #CommonPartsLibrary
    jharwinbarrozo
    1.5M
  • Generic Capacitor
    Generic Capacitor
    A generic fixed capacitor ideal for rapid circuit topology development. You can choose between polarized and non-polarized types, its symbol and the footprint will automatically adapt based on your selection. Supported options include standard SMD sizes for ceramic capacitors (e.g., 0402, 0603, 0805), SMD sizes for aluminum electrolytic capacitors, and through-hole footprints for polarized capacitors. Save precious design time by seamlessly add more information to this part (value, footprint, etc.) as it becomes available. Standard capacitor values: 1.0pF 10pF 100pF 1000pF 0.01uF 0.1uF 1.0uF 10uF 100uF 1000uF 10,000uF 1.1pF 11pF 110pF 1100pF 1.2pF 12pF 120pF 1200pF 1.3pF 13pF 130pF 1300pF 1.5pF 15pF 150pF 1500pF 0.015uF 0.15uF 1.5uF 15uF 150uF 1500uF 1.6pF 16pF 160pF 1600pF 1.8pF 18pF 180pF 1800pF 2.0pF 20pF 200pF 2000pF 2.2pF 22pF 20pF 2200pF 0.022uF 0.22uF 2.2uF 22uF 220uF 2200uF 2.4pF 24pF 240pF 2400pF 2.7pF 27pF 270pF 2700pF 3.0pF 30pF 300pF 3000pF 3.3pF 33pF 330pF 3300pF 0.033uF 0.33uF 3.3uF 33uF 330uF 3300uF 3.6pF 36pF 360pF 3600pF 3.9pF 39pF 390pF 3900pF 4.3pF 43pF 430pF 4300pF 4.7pF 47pF 470pF 4700pF 0.047uF 0.47uF 4.7uF 47uF 470uF 4700uF 5.1pF 51pF 510pF 5100pF 5.6pF 56pF 560pF 5600pF 6.2pF 62pF 620pF 6200pF 6.8pF 68pF 680pF 6800pF 0.068uF 0.68uF 6.8uF 68uF 680uF 6800uF 7.5pF 75pF 750pF 7500pF 8.2pF 82pF 820pF 8200pF 9.1pF 91pF 910pF 9100pF #generics #CommonPartsLibrary
    jharwinbarrozo
    1.5M
  • Generic Inductor
    Generic Inductor
    A generic fixed inductor for rapid developing circuit topology. *You can now change the footprint and 3D model at the top level anytime you want. This is the power of #generics
    jharwinbarrozo
    15.1k
  • Terminal
    Terminal
    An electrical connector acting as reusable interface to a conductor and creating a point where external circuits can be connected.
    natarius
  • RMCF0805JT47K0
    RMCF0805JT47K0
    47 kOhms ±5% 0.125W, 1/8W Chip Resistor 0805 (2012 Metric) Automotive AEC-Q200 Thick Film #forLedBlink
    jharwinbarrozo
    1.2M
  • 875105359001
    875105359001
    10uF Capacitor Aluminum Polymer 20% 16V SMD 5x5.3mm #forLedBlink #commonpartslibrary #capacitor #aluminumpolymer #radialcan
    jharwinbarrozo
    1.2M
  • CTL1206FYW1T
    CTL1206FYW1T
    Yellow 595nm LED Indication - Discrete 1.7V 1206 (3216 Metric) #forLedBlink
    jharwinbarrozo
    1.1M

Inspect

ESP32 x86 PC

ESP32 x86 PC
Description

Created
Last updated by adriangispert
Forked from
vasy_skral/esp32-x86-pc
1 Contributor(s)
adriangispert

Controls

Properties

Availability & Pricing

DistributorQty 1
Arrow$0.76–$2.60
Digi-Key$0.81–$24.40
LCSC$3.82–$4.21
Mouser$12.89
TME$4.15
Verical$0.76–$479.95

Assets